Trunk



N0. 6l0,500. Patented Sept. 6, |898. B. T. SMITH &. A. E. BKER.

TRUNK.

(Application led Apr. 29, 1897.)

(N0 Model.)

f @Mm mm UNITED STATES VPiAfrni'wr OFFICE.

BENJAMIN T. SMITH AND ALFRED E. BAKER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

TRUNK.

srEcIEIcA'rIoN forming part of Letters Patent' No. 610,500, dated vs 1 .f.f.be1 e, 1898.

Application filed April 2 9, 1 8 9 7.

To all whom it may concern: n

Be it known that we, BENJAMIN T. SMITH and ALFRED E. BAKER, citizens of the United States, residing in the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Trunks, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specication, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of our improved trunk, one of the doors being open to show the drawers inside. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view showing the front edge of the trunk, and Fig. 4 is a slightly-modified form.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in trunks, the object being to construct a trunk which can be opened from the side, thus permitting a number of trunks to be piled on top of each other in which all are accessible. By thus rendering the trunk easy of access traveling men and others may use the same more conveniently than where the lid is arranged on top.

With this object in view'the invention consists in constructing a trunk with doors giving access to the inside thereof, said trunk containing a series of drawers, the bottom drawer forming the upper wall of a compartment in the bottom of the trunk. By constructing a trunk with this bottom compartment we give strength to the whole structure by the presence of the strip on the front side of the trunk, which forms 'the front wall of said compartment.

Another feature of invention resides in arranging the strip on the upper forward edge of the trunk, which strip forms a protecting ledge or lip for the doors to keep out rain, &c.

Other features of invention reside in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts, all as will hereinafter be described, and afterward pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings, A indicates the top wall, B the end walls, O the bottom, and D the rear wall, of a trunk, such parts'being braced by suitable brackets and strips, as is common.

On the inside of the end walls we arrange suitable cleats E, properly placed to receive and support drawers F, preferably extending Serial No. 634,349. (No model.)

which it may be fastened to the top wall of the trunk and the short vsection of wall H.

J indicates a strip arranged on top of the upper wall and at the front edge thereof, said strip projecting forward, forming a ledge to the front protect the doors from injury and at the same time prevent the entrance of rain into the trunk.

If desired, instead of having the two doors I a single door K may be employed, (see Fig. 4.,) which may be hinged to the top wall of the trunk, so as to raise upwardly; orit may be hinged to one ofthe end walls, thus making the trunk with a single door.

A trunk constructed as above described is very easy of access and very convenient, in that the drawers form sliding trays, which may be removed or inserted at will independentlyof each other. The front wall G. materially strengthens the trunk and also makes an additional compartment in the lower portion of the trunk, to which access is gained by the removal of the lower. drawer. By hinging the doors at the end of the trunk a number of trunks may be piled one on top of the other, whereby access may be gained to each. We prefer to form the doors of crossed-grain veneering, as shown near the bottom of Fig. 3, which materially strengthens the same; but it is obvious that other material may be used, if desired.

We are aware that many minor changes in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without in the least departing from the nature and principle of our invention.

Having thus described our invention, what We claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a trunk, the combination With the fixed top, bottom, end, and rear Walls, of a front fixed Wall which extends partially up the front of the trunk to form a bottom compartment and strengthen the structure, cleats secured to the end Walls for a series of drawers, double doors hinged to said end Walls for closing the front 0f the trunk, flanges projeoting laterally from said doors and extending over the top, end and front Walls, and a reinforcing-strip J for strengthening the top Wall at its front edge and proteotin g the doors, said strip extending forwardly beyond the 15 plane of the doors substantially as described.

In testimony whereof We hereunto affix our signatures, in presence of tWo Witnesses, this 21st day of April, 1897.

BENJAMIN T. SMITH.

ALFRED E. BAKER.

Witnesses:

F. R. OORNWALL, HUGH K. WAGNER. 

